Gran Agha, also known as Khudaidad, is suspected of being a facilitator
of insurgent activity against Afghan and coalition security forces
throughout Kariz-e-Sayidi and Nad-e-Ali districts and led a cell of
insurgents in a wide range of criminal activity.

The detained leader is also believed to have links to a number of other Taliban leaders operating throughout the province.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South
Afghan and coalition security forces today confirmed the arrest of a
Taliban leader in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Friday. The
arrested leader is alleged to have provided equipment for attacks on
Afghan and coalition forces, in addition to coordinating insurgent
operations throughout northern Helmand. In the weeks prior to his
arrest, several insurgents believed to be operating under the Taliban
leader attempted multiple attacks on security forces. The security force
also detained several suspected insurgents as a result of the
operation.

Afghan Special Police, advised by coalition security forces, conducted a
cordon and search operation in Lashkar Gah district, Helmand province
last night resulting in an explosives cache recovery. In the Afghan led
mission, 4,000 kilograms of ammonium nitrate and 1,000 kilograms of
homemade explosives were seized. The area the cache was found is a
suspected facilitation node for lethal aid being transported from
Pakistan to Central Helmand.

East
In Gardez district, Paktiya province today, an Afghan and coalition
security force arrested a Haqqani weapons dealer. The arrested weapons
dealer is believed to be responsible for delivering supplies and weapons
— including assault rifles — to Haqqani insurgents throughout the area
for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The Haqqani weapons
dealer is also suspected of playing an active role in planning,
preparing and coordinating insurgent attacks against security forces.
The security force also detained a few suspected insurgents and seized
weapons accessories and dozens of counterfeit IDs as a result of the
operation.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban intelligence
facilitator in Gelan district, Ghazni province, today. The arrested
facilitator is alleged to have gathered information on Afghan and
coalition security operations and provided it to Taliban leaders for
planning and conducting insurgent attacks. The security force also
detained a few suspected insurgents and seized several firearms and
accessories as a result of the operation.

In Molla Gur Village, Kus Kunar District, Kunar Province Friday, the 1st
Company, 1st Special Operations Kandak, conducted a clearing operation
alongside Coalition Forces. During the operation, numerous insurgents
fired at the forces with machine guns from prepared fighting positions
hidden on the high ground. After positively identifying the hostile
intent, Commandos and Coalition Forces implemented air-to-ground and
mortar engagements resulting in two insurgents killed. A post-strike
assessment determined no civilians were harmed. There was also no Afghan
or coalition security forces were injured or killed during the
engagement.

KABUL, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police during series of operations have eliminated 19 armed Taliban fighters and detained over a dozen others over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Saturday.

MIRAMSHAH: A US drone strike on Saturday killed at least
three militants in Pakistan’s restive tribal region near the Afghan
border, security officials said.

The strike took place in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, known as a bastion of the Taliban and al Qaeda.

The drone targeted a moving vehicle and fired two missiles, they said.

“The identity of the militants was immediately unclear but this area
is mostly occupied by members of the militant commander Gul Bahadur’s
group,” a security official in Peshawar told AFP.

Another official on the ground in Miranshah said that the vehicle had
been driving through a village 35 kilometers (around 20 miles) west of
Miranshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan tribal district.

“We have reports that two militants of Gul Bahadur group were also
injured in the attack,” he told AFP on the condition of anonymity
because he was not authorised to speak to the media.